Alphabet background ...

Hi Everybody,

Here is a card with the Alphabet background a little more clear.

I did this yesterday ... and another in blue that I filmed as I was making it and it will be on the blog pages later this week.

The Alphabet I used is designed by  Donna Salazar and available from   Save On Hobbies   at a really good price ... and there are many more for you to choose.

It is useful to have an alphabet in your crafting "Stash" to personalise any projects that you are planning to do.

If you look at the inside of the card you will see that the panel has been embossed ....... and so yes I forgot to emboss the front panel.

I think I need a holiday to rejuvenate my memory.

Still the card is pretty and can be for any occasion ... I just happened to make mine into a Baby card and used more letters

The close up shows the pearly flourish from Want2Scrap  which can be cut  to fit your designs.

The flowers, which have been sparkled with Glamour Dust, are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and both are the finishing touch for me.

I will add the blue card later when I add the tutorial.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

"Much Love" in Pink ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is similar to  yesterdays in that it is a   Hinged card   but of course this is a lovely fresh  pink and it is very pretty.

All the layers are from the Grand Labels but the last white layer has been stenciled

What I did was create my stencil from randomly placed letters from the alphabet set and then used the blending tool  to rub ink through it.

The blending tools are available to buy in "My Shop"

Then ... I added everything on top of it and now you can't see it ... which was rather stupid of me .... soreeee !!

But I will repeat the technique again on another card and next time you will be able to see the effect.

The sentiment is from L:ili of the Valley and has been embossed in silver and added to the Lacy Circles.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts 

The lovely ribbon is from my "stash"   and has two small pins pushed into it with a Dazzler to cover the knot.

The  beautiful  flourish behind the flowers is from   Want2Scrap

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

"Much Love" ... in blue

Hi Everybody,

For todays card  I have created a frame from the largest die in the Parisian Motifs set.

This is a lovely set together with the accents set  and is one I suggested as a starter set ...  a few years ago now ...  when I did the video   Starting Your Spellbinders Collection.

But of course things move on and new styles are added as the years go by and so I really should up date that video with a more up to date collection  for  2013.

The card is made in a Hinged Card style  and has lots of layers both inside and out.

The frame has the Quatrefoil Pattern in the centre and is raised on foam pads for depth.  You can get the die from Sunrise Crafts

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and I have stamped and heat embossed it in silver.

The beautiful collection of flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts

The ribbon is from my "Stash" and has been tied into a triple bow  with the Bow Maker for a lovely effect.

 The bow maker is available to buy in My Shop

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Criscross Pattern ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I showed you a card that I have been perfecting so that I can add it to a video tutorial to share with you all.

This card is the same technique but I have used the Crisscross pattern  die and I really like this one.

I have added in my flowers ..... no surprises there then ... and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

 I have stamped and embossed the sentiment and frame in silver and they are from a matching Labels 20 set from JustRite Stampers

I have added the matching Labels 20 "Bling" from Want2Scrap 

The side view shows you the same filigree look to the back of the card so everything needs to be kept neat and tidy.

The Crisscross die is from Sunrise Crafts  and they have most of the newest ones now in stock.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Tapestry Pattern ...

Hi Everybody,

One of the newest dies to land here in the UK is Tapestry and the pattern it creates is very intricate.

I bought mine from Sunrise Crafts

It is an extendable pattern ... which means that the side of the die does not actually cut ... it just leaves the pattern in the card for you to use it as you wish.

You can place it in position so that it cuts the front of your base card.

Or you can do as I have done and create frames to sit around the edge of the pattern.  Click the link and the video will show you how.

I have cut several frames of different sizes  to go around the edge and I have added them with foam pads to raise them up.

That of course makes the centre panel sit lower on the card and so I have added the sentiment also on foam pads to give that height too.

But here is another idea that I have been playing around with using the Tapestry die.

I did all the dimensions and measuring yesterday to get things just right so that I can repeat the process and this is the first one I have done so it needs to be worked on yet ... but it is very filigree and pretty.

 And when my "Film Crew" has some spare time I am going to make a video showing you how I got this style of card so that if you wanted to try it for yourself then you would know the steps to go through to get it.

I am sure that you will agree it is an unusual card but quite pretty.

I know these dies are not cheap to but but if you can think of many ways to use them then they are worthwhile.

The cards that each one creates is so special and you would never ever be able to cut card to such detail by hand.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sentimental Card ...

Hi Everybody,

I just love these JustRite Stamps as they are a mix and match set that can create a multitude of different sentiments.

I have four sets that are in the same scripted hand and they all work together ... and I bought mine from Amazon

I line them up on a grided acrylic block ... so the the words are straight  ... and then I add them to a label

I very rarely add them directly to a card because if I do I can guarantee they will not be level and I will have to add the label to cover it up.

So I add the label in the first place to save me all that wasted time .... makes sense  ... Yeh??

This card is created with  the Crisscross Pattern which I have extended to fit the frame and I have added the pearls to the cross sections.

The inside has been layered to match the front and the card is a large one at 8" square and there are lots of layers to the end result.

The Ivy Leaf is from Crafters Companion  and is one of their Christmas release dies.  But it could be used all year round very effectively.

The flower is created from the  Sun Kissed Fleur die and I have stacked up several layers and added a pearl to the centre.

I got the die from Sunrise Crafts  which is a UK based company.

Very simple card and so much prettier in real life than the photo.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Featured Card ...

Hi Everybody,

Spectrum Noir  have added a new video I have made to their Blog page and you will find it here ...  Shaving Foam Technique

It is not a long video but it shows you what I have done to create the card and the end result ... and it is part of my commitment to being a Design Team Member.

There are many ways and many kits that you can buy that will create the marbling on your cards but they can be expensive.

This is a cheap way and it gives you the same result.  It is a simple idea and one that as been around for a long time and the whole thing is messy but fun.

 My tin of shaving foam cost me a whole 29 pence .... so it's not going to break the bank then ... and I can get a lot of use from the one can.

Once you have the foam on your card .... and any card will do... there are other things that you can do to it.

This panel has been embossed and then rubbed over with Gilding Cream and I have edged it with a black liner pen ... and it is not supposed to be a straight line !! ....

This one has been heat embossed and edged with the Spectrum Noir pen that matched the ink used in the background.

I think the whole effect is very striking and when other embellishment are added it will be a card that not even you can replicate.

Which is all part of the fun .... no two will ever be the same.

I hope you enjoy the short tutorial



Before I go I have been asked about the GNPE show in Harogate

It is on the 5th and 6th of October this year, at the showground, and you can buy your tickets from Craftwork Cards  ...

There is also a craft show on  12th 13th 14th September at Event City in Manchester 

The  "Sincerely Yours" Craft Fair  will be at  the Sports Village in Leigh, Lancashire is on the 12th and 13th October... some good dates for your diary and  if you go then enjoy yourself and don't spend too much

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Opposites attract ...

Hi Everybody

These two cards are created following the Create a Frame with Spellbinders   tutorial.   I have used the same black and white card, the same embossing folder,  the same sentiment,   the same backing paper under the filigree pattern.

They are made using the same die and I have added the same flowers along the bottom ..... BUT .... wherever one is white the other is black.

The top one is my favorite ... it seems to stand out more.

The die used is the new Tapestry from Spellbinders and I bought mine  from Sunrise Crafts

I haven't added the usual list at the bottom of the page today because the only other die used is the Grand Labels for the base and  to create the frames for the card.

 So start with the base and work your way through them.... one has a black base ...  the other is white.

One has the black centre ...  and the other is white.  One has black ribbon with white spots ... and the other is white with black spots.

The insides have been decorated the same and I have  added a label for a verse, a sentiment or a signature.

Even the pearly swirls are apposite on each card  and they are from Want2Scrap

The card did not look finished until the flowers were in place and sparkled with Glamour Dust and they are from Wild Orchid Crafts

Which ... if any ... do you like the best ??

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

Griffs' Birthday ....

Hi Everybody,

This is just a short and scheduled post because today is Griffs' Birthday and we are taking the day off.

This evening  to celebrate we are going out to our favorite restaurant for dinner just the two of us and we know it will be special.

This is the card I have for him and the verse says it all.

It is one I made a while ago and put away for today ... and now it has pride of place on top of the cabinet for everybody to see.

He keeps all the cards I make for him and this one will also be kept with the others in his memory box.

So that's it for today ... more tomorrow ...

Hugs xx